Tomato Salad With Jalapeño Ranch

Please don't listen to the reviews from MSG haters calling for BA to do "research". Anyone who still believes the racist myth of "Chinese restaurant syndrome", the idea that MSG causes health issues, needs to do their research. There is a wealth of scientific literature on MSG and none of it substantiates any of the negative claims about the seasoning. Furthermore, if you look into the history of such claims being made about MSG, you'll find it stems back to a xenophobic distrust towards east asian people and their food traditions. My "favorite" comment here says (paraphrasing) that BA shouldn't be reccomending chemicals as if everything isn't made of chemicals and as if basic table salt, which is used in nearly every recipe, isn't just as much of "chemical" as MSG. If you've ever eaten a tomato, you've consumed natural MSG bomb and chances are, you were fine and you didn't get a migraine. Fish sauce, which is being reccomended as an alternative to MSG in the comments, is also a source of MSG.

• Anonymous

• Philadelphia, PA

• 9/11/2022

Just delicious! MSG and all! Want to complain, use the fish sauce idea or Worcestershire in place. I've done it with both, and it's still good. I've gotten the audience here up to four small red jalapeños. I've also done this with holy moly, Tabasco, Big Jim, and Inferno banana peppers. Versatile good idea recipe to play from. Alas, I am a neurologist. The MSG scare is bunk. The original report was retracted even. If you're scared of the stuff, just don't use it. The stuff occurs naturally, such as in beets. I thought the "trend" of MSG "allergy" was over; apparently not

• A cook from Buffalo

• Buffalo, NY

• 8/14/2022

For everyone claiming that BA didn't do their research, let me remind you that a publication of this size has a team of fact checkers not to mention the fact that journalists at this caliber are trained to do their research! This is a comprehensive scientific literature review of all published studies regarding the safety of MSG. The fact is, our body processes MSG almost exactly the same as naturally occurring glutamate that is found in a wide variety of foods. Studies that claimed harmful effects have been shown to be flawed. More recent and defensible studies have shown no deleterious effects. That being said, any ingredient in excess is likely to cause digestive issues. And if you are allergic, that is another matter. But not publishing a recipe because a small handful of people have an allergy would mean that the pages of food magazines and food blogs would be completely empty. Avoid recipes that have ingredients you are allergic to. Pretty simple. This dressing is amazing and I'll eat it on anything, thanks! And probably in excess ;)

• Rachel D

• Portland OR

• 8/3/2022

I thought I would read the comments first because a have friend who is deathly allergic to MSG. From personal experience, it triggered migraines in me, and it raises my BP. I do think BA needs to do more in-depth research before recommending a chemical without any warnings. For a substitute, I offer you to try a quality FISH SAUCE. A little dab will do you.

• Marianne

• Terrace, Bc Canada

• 8/3/2022

A TEASPOON of MSG? Well, regardless of your opinion, you've just put half my family in the ED with an almost anaphylactic reaction. BA really does need to do adequate research, and this article & receipe shows it. A "B–" on the receipe, an "F" for research.

• Leon Jester

• Southern Virginia

• 8/3/2022

This is not a comment on one recipe but your whole article. You and many others in the food industry have never talked to someone who has had an allergic reaction to MSG or garlic. Both can cause swelling of the tongue, lips and headaches. Rick W. Palm Springs ,I so support your opinion. How about BA, with your talented resources giving us replacement suggestions for both MSG and Garlic. If I can figure a sub for MSG I might, just might try it .

• Marilyn J

• Regina, Canada

• 8/3/2022

I read the article on "MSG is optional, not really". No way to review that article, but it linked to this recipe. Wow, there is science that MSG is bad for you. The article absolutely states the opposite. Sorry BA, but I will trust science. I live in Hong Kong half of each year where MSG is in almost everything. I, and all of the local people in my office, try to avoid it as much as possible. Headache, tiredness, strange taste in your mouth, thirsty, and yes, diarrhea is you eat a lot of it and have not built up a tolerance. The locals tell me: "the cheaper the restaurant the more MSG". It's viewed as a shortcut to make foot initially tasty without skill or flavorful ingredients.

• RickW

• Palm Springs

• 8/2/2022